Selection of perennial and Italian ryegrass plants resistant to ryegrass mosaic virus

Perennial ryegrass plants collected from fields and Italian ryegrass plants grown from seed were selected for resistance to infection by ryegrass mosaic virus (RMV) by repeated manual inoculation. Two of 108 perennial ryegrass plants and one of 150 Italian ryegrass plants were symptomless after seven and nine inoculations respectively. These three plants were propagated vegetatively. Plants of the two perennial ryegrass clones showed no symptoms after further manual inoculations with the initial isolate of RMV, or with an inoculum from infected plants collected from several fields, or after inoculation by viruliferous mites. Electron microscopy and back tests indicated that the plants were virus free. Some plants of the selected Italian ryegrass clone became infected after a further inoculation with mites or sap, but fewer than similarly inoculated unselected plants.